Count Your Blessings

On Monday, I went to my mom’s like I usually do after my stint at radio station True Country 93.5.  I arrived just after nine. It was very cold and had snowed a couple inches overnight so I thought I would shovel the driveway. You never know what might happen and I wanted to make sure the path was clear for any emergencies.

I left my home at four-thirty to travel the icy highway south and, with my mind centered on the conditions of the roads, I had forgotten my mittens. When I arrived I asked my mom if I could borrow hers. She said I could and rolled her wheelchair into her bedroom to fetch them. After donning her heavy sweatshirt over my already warm jacket for extra protection from the bitter wind, she came back and handed me her mittens.

I thought they were going to be the big black mittens with the white fur inside. Apparently, that pair is long gone because she handed me a pair of blue knitted mittens. I was confused and said “These aren’t your black mittens.” She replied “No, these are my mama’s mittens.”

My deceased grandmother, even though blind, had knitted mittens for all of us for many years. Those blue mittens might very well be the last pair in existence. I took them from her and was proud to put them on.

When I did, there was a big hole in one of the thumbs. She said “I’m sorry about the hole.” I told it was no problem and that I didn’t care because they will keep my hands warm while I shovel.

I went outside and it took, maybe, fifteen to twenty minutes to shovel her small and, thankfully, level driveway. I came back in and handed her back the mittens. I held out my hands and showed her “Look, Ma, nice and warm.” She took my hands in hers to confirm I was indeed warm to the touch. She noticed my bracelet and grabbed that hand.

“See that?” she asked me. “Look at mine.” Her hand with her bracelet around her wrist was holding my hand with my bracelet around mine. She had bought hers after watching a Hallmark movie entitled “The Blessing Bracelet”. She pointed to hers which has 4 beads on it and said “I have had a few blessings in my life but you” pointing to mine “have had so many.” She was referring to the number of beads on mine which was an entire bracelet full.

I disagreed. I told her she had had many blessings in her life including her many children that love her…and a mom that made mittens. That made her smile.

I started thinking about what she had said. This week has been a very trying week for me and my family. Lots of things have been going on and they have been difficult to get through. I wouldn’t be getting through them without people in my life that care about me and my family.

And God put them there.

He has put people in my life in so many situations and most of the time I didn’t even know I was going to need them. Family, friends, coworkers, spouses of friends, children of friends, and friends of my child…they have all come forward this week to offer support. I am so thankful for them all.

The 1954 film “White Christmas” has a scene between Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney where she explains she is having trouble sleeping. He sings to her the lyrics of the song 'Count Your Blessings' written by Irving Berlin:

“When I’m worried and I can’t sleep.

I count my blessings instead of sheep

And I fall asleep counting my blessings.

When my bankroll is gettin’ small

I think of when I had none at all

And I fall asleep counting my blessings.”

Throughout all that’s gone on in the last seven days, one thing that hasn’t changed is saying my prayers before I go to sleep. And I do fall asleep counting my blessings. And I do feel better. And I do feel peace. And I have been blessed. And I am thankful for all God has blessed me with.

So whether it takes a movie, a bracelet or a trial that nudges you to not forget you ARE blessed, remember you blessings. One of my favorite hymns is “Count Your Blessings” written by Johnson Oatman Jr in 1897 and set to music by Edwin O. Excell:

                        "When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,

                        When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

                        Count your many blessings, name them one by one

                        And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

                        Count you blessings, name them one by one;

                        Count your blessings, see what God hath done;

                        Count your blessings, name them one by one,

                        And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done."

Count them. Every day. Give thanks for them. Make a habit of it. You WILL feel better. You WILL feel peace. I can testify that it is true. 

Honor Thy Father

Have you ever had one of those dreams where you SWEAR you could reach out and touch everything about it? Then you wake up the next day with a song that plays over and over again in your head?

That was me last night and, boy, was it a doozy. It involved baseball, Sidney Poitier and Heaven.

And it was wonderful.

To explain it, I would have to tell you more about my dad.

America’s Favorite Pastime - Baseball

My dad loved baseball. He played it growing up. He used to go to the ballfield with his friends or just play stickball in the street. And, from what he told me, he was pretty good at it. My dad took my brother to the original Shea Stadium in New York for a Mets game (something I am still envious of). He used to love the California Angels because Gene Autry, his favorite singing cowboy, was an owner. And, of course, living in Maine, he was a Red Sox fan. You would find my mom and dad glued to the tv when they played. They also watched the Little League World Series every year.

Sidney Poitier

Growing up, Saturday and Sunday afternoons were filled with my parents watching old movies. One of their favorites starred Sidney Poitier. ‘Lilies of the Field’ won him an Oscar for his portrayal of a handyman whose car breaks down at a small church somewhere in a western desert of the United States. The sisters who run the church hire him as a handyman and have him build a chapel: A chapel they had been praying for and he was the answer to their prayers…in more ways than one.

While giving them an English lesson (the sisters spoke broken English as they had been sent from Germany, Austria and Hungary), they sing a call and response hymn “Amen”. I used to sing that song around the house not knowing that, at that time, my parents gave me my first lesson in the Gospel.

The only thing I knew about God and Jesus was that Jesus was God’s son. The birth of Jesus with Mary and Joseph always came up around Christmastime. My parents had a small crèche they would set up. When we would watch ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ Linus would recite Luke 2: 8-14 from the Bible. It always made me cry yet I didn’t understand why. I never asked and no one ever told me.

Just a few short years before my dad’s passing, I asked him questions about his childhood. He told me how they went to church every Sunday, he sang in the choir and how the choirmaster took him under his wing and taught him to sing. He would then bring my dad around to area businesses and he would make a little money singing songs. The money helped his family. I had found a picture of his choirmaster and when I showed it to him, he couldn’t stop talking. So many memories flooded back to him. I wish I could have wrote them all down. I can only scribble so fast. But the time spent with him telling them was the best part.

Heaven

Although he never preached to us or spoke much about it, the Gospel was a part of his life. My parents had a huge gold-framed picture of Jesus on the wall and a statue of Mother Mary in the yard for their garden. One of the last things he said to me before he passed was “God bless that boy.”  He was referring to a photograph I showed him of my son, Anderson, wearing the tie he had specially made for him for Christmas and dad side by side in matching photos. Even though he could barely see at the end, he saw that picture when he held it up close and he teared up at the sight of it. In a shaky voice on shaky legs he said “God bless that boy.” That is something I’ll never forget.  And I am blessed to have that memory.

People, recently, have asked me personally “Why does God let things happen?” One person was referring to the murders of innocent people going on right now in Israel with their war. Another, why God would take their loved one from them and leave them so alone? Another, why would He let them die from Cancer?

I personally, believe that God doesn’t take people from us. He doesn’t strike people down with sickness. He doesn’t take their life. He is a loving and nurturing God. We were sent here to find our way back to Him. Terrible things happen in life. Heartbreaking, horrible and horrendous things. Some cannot be explained why. When a person dies, I truly believe Jesus and our Heaven Father are there to receive them. My nephew was gone from this Earth too soon but I know Heavenly Father was there to receive him when he arrived in Heaven. He also received my father with open arms. We are left here on Earth to deal with the aftermath. There is no time limit on grieving. Everyone grieves in their own way. While it may not look like I’m grieving, I am. The difference is I know they are together again and watching over us. They are happy. They are healthy. And they are perfect.

So with all this information you may wonder what “The Dream” was all about.

The Dream

It was so vivid. And it all makes so much sense when I think about.

I was walking up the steps through Fenway Park, something I have done many times, to seats along the 3^rd baseline. I could hear music coming from the tunnel. As I came closer the music got louder. When I finally reached the entrance the loudspeakers were blasting “Amen” from the movie. As I stepped closer to the front row I could see players in glowing white uniforms playing ball in the outfield. I watched and saw them throwing baseballs back and forth. One player broke from the team and trotted over to where I was standing. As he came closer it was hard to focus on him because he was so bright. He stopped just a few feet from me and after a few seconds I was able to see him clearly.

It was my dad.

Young, healthy, handsome. Just the way I thought he would be in Heaven.

In the ‘Field of Dreams’ movie, Kevin Costner said Heaven was Iowa. I think it’s Boston, now.

He was wearing a white Boston Red Sox hat but on his uniform above his left breast was a California Angels logo embroidered all in white.  He was tossing the ball in his glove over and over. I asked him “Dad, what’s going on?”

And he got this huge smile on his face. He turned and pointed his glove to the big screen. I looked up at it and there I was. I laughed and waved (Because who doesn’t do that when they see themselves on the big screen?) and said “Okay. What is happening?”

He gestured to me to look again and I did. The screen changed from my face to the words “Thank You” with God and Jesus on each side each giving me a thumbs up. The music got louder and he started to sing along with the song. He started backing away singing all the while and eventually turned and went back to his team.

I woke up to ‘Amen” in my head and it was so loud I googled the video of it and smiled. What a powerful and happy song that it.

What does it all mean?

After pondering all the things it COULD mean, all I can think of is this: I was honoring him. Not only him but my Heavenly Father as well. He was thanking me for believing in our Heavenly Father and his only begotten son, Jesus Christ. He was thanking for helping instill this knowledge in my son. He was thanking me for understanding why he is in Heaven. He was thanking me for not blaming him. He was thanking me for sharing the love my heavenly brother and father have for me.

There’s not a day that goes by I don’t think of my dad or get on my knees and pray for guidance and comfort in my life. A day I don’t ask my Heavenly Father to open the eyes of the ones that can’t see or refuse to see His love that is right there in front of them. A day I don’t thank Him for the wonderful life I have. It is because of His belief in me and my belief in Him that I can do the things I do, have the things I have, dream the dreams I dream. (Kind of like 1 Corinthians 13:7)

And that dream was the most precious one I could ever have.

 

Seminary and the New School Year

Anderson and I had a good talk the other day about serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It isn't required. It is by a person's choice to do so. He has made up his mind to go. It will happen in 4 or 5 years depending on when he turns 18. September 1st is a tough day for a birthday when you're LDS. College will have started that August so he will probably have to wait until the next year.

With it brings a list of things to do. This list becomes HIS list that includes 6am Seminary scripture study every morning before school throughout his entire high school years, saving the $10,000 to go on the mission and keeping his heart open to the possibility of wherever Heavenly Father might send him. He really wants to serve in another country which may require the learning of a new language.

I have shared with him the videos of his friends from church receiving their mission calls: some serving right here in New England, some to the western United States, one to Peru and, now, another to Copenhagen, Denmark. He jokes how he would like to be sent to Chad...because, well, he thinks it would be funny to be where his stepdad's name is. Other times he chooses Poland. Why? I have no idea. And then other times he thinks about Australia or maybe somewhere he could speak French. He loves learning the French language and can't wait for school to start to do so. He knows he can't choose WHERE but he is excited for the day when he gets that email to finally tell him where he will be spending 2 years of his young adult life preaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Just hearing that he wants to serve Heavenly Father in this way makes my heart happy and sad and scared. Happy that he will grow and learn things, meet new people and have experiences he would otherwise not have. Sad that he won't be here to hug at anytime or be just a few minutes away. Scared that he may be in another country where things aren't so pleasant.

Wherever he goes, he will have my heart with him. 💙

I came across this video of a stellar athlete Tyler Haws from Long Peak High School in Utah called A Work In Progress. It made me think of his friend, Jackson Dudley. It takes a good look into the hard work and dedication kids put into, not only sports, but their lives and trying to be the best they can be on and off the court. While Anderson isn't involved in any sports at the moment he will be looking for ways to support his high school teams and become a teammate in some way. Being part of a team helps kids learn to work with others and focus on achieving a goal. It also teaches it takes a team to do it and not just a single person. Every person has something individual to offer...being part of a team and having a good leader take those parts and intertwine them to make that whole is what makes a team great! It is my hope he can be part of a team to have that happen if not in sports then in some other way.

So in September when the 5AM alarm rings for study, the getting out of bed will eventually become routine. It will be the beginning of another chapter in his life. Not just high school but the school of life and responsibility and commitment to God, himself and who he will become. It's going to be quite the journey but I promise I will be there every step of the way.

Our Trip To Dallas

Friday, October 4th

I was up at 3:30 am to be to work for 4:15. I wanted to make sure I minimized the number of vacation hours I used. I figured if I worked most of the day I could be out around noon and have plenty of time to pack for our trip.

Chad went to work for a meeting and then was sent to the Lewiston Marden’s location. They were originally going to send him to Sanford but he reminded them that he needed to be out by noon. They then suggested Ellsworth but that would have caused the same problem. So Lewiston it was!

At the suggestion of a coworker, I called Key Bank and CPort Credit Union to let them know of our travel plans. I didn’t want any problems on our trip. 

We both arrived home and packed 1 piece of luggage. We travel pretty light. We left for the airport, dropped off Jayden and Brad at their mom’s in Auburn and headed to Portland. We took the exit for the Portland International Jetport and were waiting at a red light. While talking, a grey Dodge Infinity rammed into us. One minute from the airport and, because of our luck, we were rear ended. Chad pulled to the side and the old man did, too. They had slammed into our trailer hitch and had a huge hole in their front bumper. There was no damage to our truck and the man said “Okay, you’re fine.” He got in his car and left with his elderly wife. Like, sped away as fast as they could. Chad got back in the truck and asked if I was okay. My neck was a little sore but we had a plane to catch. 

We checked in and went through TSA with no problems. The woman doing the scanning had Chad pull up his pants. They weren’t sagging at all but she made him do it anyway. I told him it was because he had a nice butt!

We only waited to board about 15 minutes. We were in the last row of the plane. Chad said it was a good thing because no one could kick the backs of our seats. I offered him the window seat but he declined. He was a gentleman to let me have it.

The take off and traveling were good. Very little turbulence. We landed in Washington DC 20 minutes ahead of schedule. We took a tram from Terminal B to Terminal C. We ate at a restaurant that served Greek food. The salad I had included the most delicious chicken I’ve ever tasted! I gave Chad a few pieces because I had so much.

Our flight from Washington to Dallas started out great thanks to our flight attendant. I asked how many rows were on the plane and she said 30. I looked at our tickets and told Chad we were next to last. She said “Wait! I know you! Sharon and Chad Hood. Let me give you row 18. The entire row is vacant. This way you won’t be the last people off the plane.” So we had the row to ourselves. We were able to sleep and when the attendant woke us, we were informed that we would arrive another 20 minutes early.

We found our luggage in the baggage claim and promptly called for an Uber. We were met by Joseph in a very clean silver Prius. He loaded our bags in the back, open doors for us and we were on our way. 

Turns out driving for Uber is his full time job. He takes home around $700 weekly while only working around 26 hours. To bring home $1000, he would have to work around 50 hours. He was very talkative and fun to have as our driver.

We arrived at Microtel Inn in Arlington. Let’s just say the people behind the front desk smelled like they were smoking something and our room didn’t look exactly what was pictured. We were kind of disappointed but it was clean, paid for and ready for us to sleep. Beggars can’t be choosers. 

 

Saturday, October 5

We woke up at 9 Central Standard Time. After showering we found that the continental breakfast, again, wasn’t what was pictured on the booking website. Chad remembered there was a restaurant around the corner. Turned out it was a Denny’s! We were seated and served by a wonderful lady. I complimented her on her hair. It was very pretty. We then sat outside and figured out what we wanted to do. We decided to spend the day in Dallas. We started at the Dallas Zoo. We requested an Uber and within 4 minutes our ride arrived.

Kenneth was our driver and from Texas. His full time job was the owner of a restaurant in the  airport. We told him if we were in his terminal, we would eat there. He also told us that the Fort Worth Zoo was better than the Dallas Zoo. We had heard that from the driver the night before as well but we were going to be spending the day there anyway.

The zoo wasn’t expensive. The exhibits were great! We saw everything from scarlet McCaws, cheetahs, elephants, warthogs, gorillas and giraffes. We were hungry so we decided to eat at one of their restaurants. The BBQ place was charging $7.49 for 1 hot dog. I saw they had a BBQ meal for $18.49. It came with 2 kinds of meat and 2 sides. We already had Gatorades so we didn’t have to purchase drinks. 

From the zoo we took a quick Uber to Perot Museum of Nature and Science. We saw a 3D movie called Wild Africa. It was very interesting. That is also where we bought Anderson and Jayden their gifts. 

We then walked to visit The Sixth Floor Museum. Unfortunately, the next tour was 4:30pm and we were unable to take it because our reservations for dinner were at 5. So we went to the Grassy Knoll and viewed the site of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. I can understand taking pictures but when a woman decided to walk into the middle of the street, laugh and smile and laugh and pose silly for a picture...it was not well done. She could have just stood there.

We then Ubered to Medieval Times. We were picked up and dropped off by a young lady. She was very nice. We went to the convenience store next door because our hotel room was not well stocked with toiletries. We picked up shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, a comb (because I forgot my hairbrush) and a few other things. When we went back to Medieval Times we checked in and were assigned the Red Knight. We had our picture taken with Excalibur and were seated into dinner. 

The dinner was great. It was the same delicious tomato bisque, baked chicken, potato and corn on the cob. There was ice cream for dessert. Each theater we have attended has never disappointed. The show is different each time. The acting and combat was very good. Our knight lost again but it was still exciting. The horse show was wonderful as well. 

We went back to the hotel to rest up for the next day. We Ubered for a ride and my Key Bank card was declined so I used my Cport Credit Union card instead. During the ride I called Key Bank and they released the hold. I told them I had called the day before and there should be notes on our account saying we were traveling. I did it to make sure something like this wouldn’t happen. Apparently no one was paying attention. We can’t stand Key Bank. Yes, I’m grateful for theft protection but that was stupid. 

Eliud Njubi was our driver. He was so interesting. He is originally from Kenya and came to the United States on a scholarship to TCU when he was 18. He was a runner and a coach. I looked him up online and it turns out he was a 2-time South Central Region Cross Country Champion! I told him Anderson wanted to become a better runner and he told me to tell him to not run on his heels but to run on his toes. He also said for him to join cross country because it will definitely help him. Eliud became a US citizen 2 years ago. He sends money back to his mom in Africa to help pay her bills. He was so pleasant to talk to and you can tell he loves people. 

Sunday, October 6th

IT’S MY BIRTHDAY! I woke up around 5:30. I had missed General Conference from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints the day before because we were off exploring. As I started listening to the Saturday afternoon session while Chad was sleeping I was floored. The talk by Elder Bednar shocked me. It went right along with a certain event that happened to us yesterday at the zoo.

While we were there we observed other people. People watching is fun. There was a man who was with a woman and it was obvious he was trying to impress her by the things he was saying. As we walked by the cheetah enclosure we could hear him say “Did you know cheetahs are fast. He could jump from that rock and clear that fence if he wanted to.” We looked at each other and I, personally, thought it was cute. They must have just started dating and it really sounded like they were on one of their first dates.

What I didn’t know is at the exact time that exchange between the couple happened, General Conference was going on. At that very instant, Elder Bednar was referencing a talk by President Packer from 1976 about observing the predatory habits of wild animals and how we can learn from them. He went on to mention how he and his wife, Susan, were in Africa on a trip years later and they were able to observe a pair of cheetahs as they were hunting topis as their next meal. One of his first sentences was “Cheetahs are the fastest land animals on Earth.” 

How could that be? Was it coincidence? I don’t think so. Chad and I never go anywhere and we had decided last minute to visit the zoo. I, personally, truly believe God was sending us a message. Elder Bednar’s remarks told of the 3 lessons he had learned from their excursion: Beware of evil’s challenging deguises, stay awake and be alert and understand the intent of the enemy. 

We woke up late and I had asked Chad to please watch the 15 minute video with me. It would mean so much for my birthday if he did. We watched it together and when Elder Bednar said that the 2 cheetahs were 100 yards apart I paused the video. I told him 100 yards: that’s the same distance as a football field. There is no way that hearing that number, those particular animals and that talk being given on that very same instance we were visiting the zoo was coincidence. When we finished watching the video I told Chad that I know God loves me and him and was personally watching out for us. He knew we were taking that trip and He wanted us to know that we were loved. I really think it was a sign. I hugged him tight and thanked Chad for that gift to me. 

We left the hotel and had breakfast at Denny’s again. We both ordered the same thing.  We walked back to the hotel and Ubered for a driver to take us to AT&T Stadium. I was told that if we get there early we had a chance of getting front row in the standing room only sections. 

The man who picked us up was a married father of 3 boys who were ages 7,8 and 9. His wife, who is an architect, hates sports so on Sundays after church, like today, he drives for Uber and gets to listen to the games. He also has a go-to playlist. His favorite artist is Mandisa who was a contestant on American Idol years ago. She has had a very successful gospel career.  Her song ‘Overcomer’ was the title track to the movie I took Anderson and Jayden to see just a few days before the trip.

We arrived at the stadium. It was so big! Two women walking by asked if we wanted them to take our picture for us. We sure did appreciate it. We went inside the gate but couldn’t go in just yet as it was only 12:30. We went to the Pro Shop tables and found a couple of Cowboys shirts to buy, something for Brad and a hat for me. When we approached the counter I asked the lady behind it if there was a discount for my birthday. She laughed and said “There sure is!” Chad and I thought she was joking but she wasn’t! She gave us a discount and I got my hat for free!

At 1pm the doors opened and we hustled up the four flights of stairs and found a spot at the Standing Room Only right up front! We had to stand for 2 hours before the game started. I will tell you, the view was spectacular! On our left was a man and his son from Ohio who were there for their first game as well. 

We saw 100 high school football players holding the giant flag on the field as the official trumpeter played the National Anthem. Also in attendance was former President George Bush and his wife Laura. We found out the next day that Ellen DeGeneres was there sitting right next to them! How cool is that?  It was pretty exciting! We left at halftime because the game was so lopsided and our legs started to ache. We walked to Taco Bell for a bite and had a very unsettling experience.

While we were finishing up our meal, behind me Chad saw a young man come through the door. The young man looked at him. He smiled strangely at Chad and Chad noticed that he lifted up his shirt a little and he could see a gun. The young man made a slow circle inside the restaurant, smiled strangely at him again and left. Chad said we need to leave now. I had no idea what was going on. We quickly threw our trash away and went outside to wait for our ride. When he told me I was definitely shaken up. We hurried into our Uber and went back to the hotel. 

We watched the rest of the game on the TV and saw the end. A disappointing loss for Dallas but we loved going there. We ordered pizza and breadsticks from Peter Piper’s Pizza which was directly across the street. When he came back from picking it up he said “I just had the weirdest experience.” He told me how when he arrived he was waiting and looking around. The place was kind of like a Chuck E Cheese with games and such. He could hear the 3 employees behind the counter saying “Do you have that order for Chad? See that guy over there? If anyone looks like a Chad it’s that guy. Yeah, he’s definitely a Chad.” He was, like, I can hear you, you know. It was just weird.

Monday, October 7

That night, neither of us slept well. There were people outside the hotel still tailgating but we fell asleep and kept waking up. I think it was just our subconscious minds telling us it was Monday morning and we both had to go to work. We got up at 6:15 and tried to Uber to the airport. The sad part was both of my debit cards were declined due to suspicious activity. I had called Key Bank and CPort Credit Union and told them on Friday what was happening and not to lock our cards. My Key Bank one locked up Saturday and now this!  Both of my cards were locked. Luckily we had an emergency credit card with us and were able to get to the airport. I called Key Bank AGAIN and they did the same thing. I told Chad I would call CPort Tuesday. I didn’t want to deal with that again that day.

Tiffany was our driver and, unfortunately, we hit the traffic heading into the big city. We made it to the airport an hour before our flight! We went to the ticket counter and and got our boarding passes. We stood in line only to get to the front where an old man shook his head and quietly said “Uh uh, you’re in the wrong line.” He handed us back our tickets and we turned around and got into the other line that was extremely slow moving. 

We finally made it to the TSA guy and I went right through. They wouldn’t let Chad come through. They were watching a guy who refused to remove his shoes. By the time Chad got through, my shoes were on and I had everything waiting for him when he caught up with me. They were holding other people’s luggage and looking through it. Glad it wasn’t ours. Of course, we had nothing to hide anyway.

We made it to the terminal and are immediately swept through the gate. The American Airlines plane was VERY roomy! For Chad to have leg room...that’s saying something. Each seat had its own TV monitor and they passed out complimentary headphones. We decided to watch a movie together: Date Night. It was pretty funny! 

During the flight, the attendants came around to administer they obligatory cookies and drink. The young man asked me what I wanted and I said a ginger ale. He looked at Chad and he asked for a Pepsi. The young man snottily replied “If you want Pepsi, you’re on the wrong airline.” And that’s ALL he said! He just stood there.  Chad was speechless. He spoke up and said “Then can I have a Coke, please?” The man poured the drink, handed it to ME and went on his way. Never even looked at him.

The rudest individual I have ever met.

Chad was like “What was that all about?” I told him I had no idea. Why does he seem to get all the weird things happening to him? 

The flight was extremely bumpy and I started to feel sick as we were coming into LaGuardia. It never fails. Each time I land here I get so sick. Luckily, I was able to keep it together but it was close. Pretty sad when I feel around the pocket of the seat in front of me just to make sure I knew where the sickness bag was.

After we disembarked, we needed to get to the next terminal. We had 2 options: Go through security or wait for a bus. We stood in line for a bus. The little old lady in front of us was very upset about having to wait. She kept complaining and the airline associate did her best to assure her it was on the way. It eventually arrived and we all got on. Chad jokingly said “Watch, we’re going to 20 feet and be there.” Sure enough we went about 100 feet and we had arrived! We laughed!

The inside Terminal B of LaGuardia is absolutely disgusting. No restaurants, dirty bathrooms and the floors...oh please, someone get a rug cleaner because I’d do them myself!  We wound up eating ready made sandwiches that you could tell had been there a while. 2 hours later we boarded the tiny plane. It wasn’t full so we were able to get seats together. I messaged Anderson that he could see where we were with our shared locations on his phone. He said he would watch. I had my phone on airplane mode and he watched our path to Portland. 

We safely landed in Portland on a rainy evening. We were home. We booked it to the baggage claim and scurried out the door to the truck. It was nice to ride in the front seat again and Chad was glad to have 2 hands on the wheel. We came home and hugged the kids, cats and dogs. I started laundry right away. We gave our gifts to the kids and went to bed about an hour later. What a great adventure we had but it was better to be home. 

Developing Your Gift from God

Yesterday, a man spoke in church about how when we are born God gives each of us a talent. That talent is left for us to discover because, sometimes, it’s not an immediate revelation. While some find it when they are children others may encounter theirs when they are adults. That talent is for us to do what we may with it. We can develop it. We can hide it. We can share it with others. We can teach others about it so they can increase theirs. Some are truly blessed and have multiple talents.

While I’m not the best vocalist, I do try and share what I think is my talent. It is such a joy for me to watch people dance to our music whether it’s the cover of a song or an original that was penned from my own hand. When the clubs are filled with patrons having a good time it makes my heart smile and I know God is happy with me.

The most wonderful part of my job is the children. When they are at the campgrounds and family functions I love to include them. When you think about it, little children are not the usual audience to attend a national concert on the stages of Bangor or Portland. When we, as a band, perform at these functions, we are the first “concert” they actually see. The children will come up to the stage and stare at the instruments. Others will stand right in front of me and watch my sparkling microphone. These are things they’ve never seen in real life. The music doesn’t come out of a tiny box or cell phone. They aren’t watching it as it is Chrome-casted on a television screen in a YouTube video.

It’s live. And to them, it’s amazing!

We have the kids come up on stage and dance or sing or, if we have it, play the tambourine. From that moment on, that’s all they can think about. I wish I had saved each message from a parent saying “Ever since we saw you play that‘s all my child thinks about. He/she wants a guitar/drums/microphone for their birthday/Christmas!”

We planted a seed.

A seed of music in a young child is a powerful thing. Studies have been shown that music helps a child learn and study better. They are better students because they can focus on a task because they focus on learning a song or a riff or a drumbeat. It helps them overcome shyness because they start to perform in front of others or join a group that makes them work with others. They can nourish that seed and, if they want, have it grow into one of the most wonderful talents a person can have and one of the easiest things to share.

I see the seeds in my own children growing. Jayden has taken to the drums like a natural. Brad has been playing guitar for years and has started talking about starting his own band with his friends. Anderson is now singing loud and proud at church. They see me and Chad and how hard we work at our music and it is rubbing off on them. We would never force them to play but we will encourage them when they are practicing. It’s our jobs as parents to help them nourish their talent.

It’s also my responsibility as an entertainer to give 150% each time I perform. In every crowd there is always someone that has never heard us. We may do the same 60 songs at every gig but there is no excuse for not giving it your all every time. You only have one chance to make a good first impression. I refuse to let that chance slip by because you never know who that one person is. It could be someone looking to hire your band for an event. It could be the next Jimi Hendrix or Carrie Underwood watching you play or sing. You will never know the affect you have on others.

Take your gift from God and make it grow. Whether it is music, teaching, sports…it doesn’t matter. Discover your gift and develop it. It will not only fill your heart but it will fill others. And you can be sure God will be smiling.